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Final Thesis: Agile Testing in a Plan-Driven Process

2013-10-14

Abstract: Software firms are aiming to reduce software development costs and improve software quality at the same time. Customer satisfaction is very important in today’s competitive market. Different software development approaches guide companies in software development but none can independently provide the ideal solution.

This thesis, written in collaboration with Capgemini Germany, attempts to combine traditional software development approaches with agile methods. Agile testing practices have been suggested to be incorporated inside traditional software development approaches with the focus on V-model. Extended V-models with agile testing methods embedded in them have been proposed and analyzed for their pros and cons. Four hypotheses emphasizing benefits of agile testing methods inside V-model have been formulated. Extended V-models and hypotheses are validated against three case studies. Three case studies i.e. three projects using agile testing methods inside V-model have been presented and compared for weaknesses and strengths.

The results of research and case studies’ analysis indicate that Scrum can be used as a framework inside V-model, within which other agile testing methods like Feature Driven Development (FDD), Test Driven Development (TDD), Acceptance Test Driven Development (ATDD) or Specification by example etc. can be embedded. FDD was found to be least agile and best candidate for adoption inside V-model, followed by ATDD and TDD. The hybrid approach combining agile testing and traditional methods provides a balance between agility and stability.